Toy



Jan. 30, 1962 Filed Sept. 4, 1957 F. A. NOVOTNEY TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In vemfor' M Parker & Carfer Attorneys Frank A. A ovolney Jan. 30, 1962 F. A. NOVOTNEY ,0

TOY

Filed Sept. 4, 1957 2 SheetsSheet 2 a 7 2 7 fl;- 8- 4- Q i 5:

l Q X/flfl 21 d u L 16 16 17 l 15 17 j j' Inventor Frank A. Novolfneq by Parker 8:62 rfer Attorneys ice Patented Jan. 30, 1962 Filed Sept. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 681,977 1 Claim. (CI. 46-11) This invention relates to a toy or novelty or similar device and has for one object to provide means whereby an existing container or vessel may have removably secured to it parts by which it is converted in to a toy.

Another object is to provide means whereby an article originally prepared for one purpose may be made suitable for another purpose by the addition to the original article of added members.

Another object is to provide means which may be removably secured to a container, generally after the container has been emptied, and by means of which the container forms the body or support of a toy or ornament.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claim.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustarting one form of the device prior to assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective on an enlarged scale illustrating the form of the device of FIG. 1 in assembled position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a number of parts suitable for removable mounting on the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustrating the device of FIG. 2 after the separable parts of FIG. 3 have been inserted;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a miscellaneous group of mechanical parts which may be added to the structure of FIG. 2 to produce a composite mechanical device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective showing the device of FIG. 2. after the parts of FIG. 5 have been added.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

In the particular form here shown the present invention is exemplified as comprising means arranged for attachment to an empty can. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, 1 is a can. It may be of generally cylindrical cross section provided with ends 2. It may have been opened in any fashion, either by complete removal of one of two of the ends 2 or by cutting or severing portions to produce openings 3, as shown in FIG. 1.

The devices which are to be attached to the container comprise cuplike members. As shown in the several FIGURES, each includes a generally fiat end portion 4 and an integral flange 5. A plurality of socket portions 6 is formed in the ends and similar socket portions 7 are formed in the flanges 5. These portions 6 and 7 may be perforations or sockets or indentations.

The dimensions of the cuplike members are such that they fit snugly over the ends of the container and will be retained in place thereon generally by friction. The cuplike members may be made of a plastic material which is retained by its elasticity upon the container. Its inner surface may be roughened to facilitate the retention or it may merely be retained by friction. The cuplike member may be sufiiciently flexible and elastic to grip the bead 8 of the container.

As shown in FIG. 3, the legs, head and tail of a horse appear. They comprise generally four legs 8, 8, hind legs 9, 9, a tail 10 and a neck and head portion 11. To each of these members is fixed a stem 12 which terminates in a ball member 13. The ball members are throughout of identical size and each is of suitable size to fit into one of the perforations, depressions or sockets 6 or 7 of the cuplike members. As shown in FIG. 4, the legs, head and tail have been inserted so that the entire device has the conventionalized appearance of a horse. Obviously any other animal could be produced it the limbs, head and tail were shaped suitably. A man might be approximated, a cow or a monkey, and almost any amount of figures could be produced in this fashion. Th fact that a horse is shown is not to be taken as limiting the invention but is merely indicative of the fact that by suitably shaping the additional parts an animal or a human or a figure may be composed.

As shown in FIG. 5 there are a number of separate parts which can be assembled with two or more cup members on two or more containers to produce a locomotive or a car. Thus, there is a headlight 14, a cow catcher 15, a pair of driving wheels 16, additional wheels 17, and other parts.

The parts of FIG. 5 are shown assembled in FIG. 6. Each of these parts has fixed to it a stemlike member 18 which terminates in a ball member 19. By means of this ball and stem construction the parts of FIG. 5 may be assembled in a cuplike member to produce the simulated appearance of a locomotive. If desired, other parts may be added, such as a smoke stack 20, a cylinder 21, a connecting rod 22 and a cablike member 23. The

particular details of these members and their members are i not illustrated in detail. Each accessory or additional part comprises a member such as the ball-like member 19 which fits into one of the openings, or sockets or depressions 6 or 7 of one. of the cup members. In this manner the simulated appearance of a locomotive may be created.

As shown in FIG. 6, there has been included a trailing car. It is made by the use of a container 1 upon which is mounted a pair of cuplike members and to each of these cuplike members is connected a pair of wheels 17. In the assembled position the car may be connected to the locomotive by a connector 24 which comprises a rodlike member having a ball at each end. The balls fit into the sockets of adjacent cuplike members. The fact that a locomotive and car are shown does not mean that other mechanical devices cannot be made. The locomotive and car are merely illustrative of two mechanical devices. A wide variety of mechanical devices may be made. It is necessary only to make suitable mechanical accessory parts shaped to give the desired appearance and provided with parts or members which will fit into the socket parts of the cuplike members. By that means many different kinds of mechanical devices can be produced and the invention is not limited to the locomotive or to the car or to any single type of device.

Although an operative form of the device has been shown, the invention is not limited to the particular details shown. Many changes may be made in the form, shape and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the arrangement of the ball members 13 and the perforations, sockets or depressions 6 and 7 could be altered so that the balls 13 or their equivalence would be on the base member 4 and they would fit into depressions, sockets or perforations carried in the added parts, such as the head, tail and legs of the figure shown in the first sheet of drawings, and the corresponding parts carried by the mechanical members shown in the second sheet of drawings.

I claim:

In combination with a container characterized by two end closure members, a plurality of cuplike members additional to and adapted to be fitted over said container, said cuplike members shaped to provide a plurality of sockets in their sides and ends, a plurality of parts adapted to be inserted and removably retained in said sockets whereby said container serves as the body of an overall construction, said insertable parts serve as the members of said construction and said cups serve as the 5 joining parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,649 Carley et a1. May 25, 1926 10 2,144,751 Brown Jan. 24, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 768,940 France May 28, 1934 

